BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2351
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2351 (Chesbro)
As Amended April 15, 2010
Majority vote
NATURAL RESOURCES 7-2 APPROPRIATIONS 11-3
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|Ayes:|Chesbro, Gilmore, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Conway, Ammiano, |
| |Brownley, | |Coto, Davis, Bonnie |
| |De Leon, Hill, Huffman, | |Lowenthal, Hall, Skinner, |
| |Skinner | |Solorio, Torlakson, Hill |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Knight, Logue |Nays:|Miller, Nielsen, Norby |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Authorizes the California Department of Forestry and
Fire Protection (CDF) to assess recreational user fees for
overnight camping and group activities on a demonstration state
forest. These fees must be deposited in the Forest Resources
Improvement Fund (FRIF) to reimburse CDF's costs of maintaining
and improving campground facilities, associated recreational
facilities, the natural environment, and access thereto.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Authorizes CDF to charge and collect recreational user fees
for overnight camping and reserved group activities on a
demonstration state forest. CDF is prohibited from charging a
fee that exceeds the amount necessary to reimburse CDF's costs
for maintenance and improvement of campground facilities,
associated recreational facilities, natural environment, and
access thereto.
2)Requires CDF to deposit all recreational user fees into the
FRIF on a monthly basis to be used, upon appropriation by the
Legislature, to reimburse the CDF's cost of maintaining and
improving the campground facilities, associated recreational
facilities, natural environment, and access thereto.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Authorizes CDF, in accordance with plans approved by the Board
of Forestry, to acquire, manage, protect, and reforest state
AB 2351
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forests.
2)Creates the FRIF in the State Treasury, for the deposit of
revenues from the sale of forest products from state forests
to support the management of these forests, including
restoration activities. Any balance in the FIRF must be
deposited in the General Fund.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, potential annual revenue in the range of $80,000 to
$120,000.
COMMENTS : According to the author's office, "Since camping on
the Demonstration State Forests has been free of charge, law
enforcement, campground access, and maintenance and improvements
to the campgrounds has been funded by timber sales. In economic
recessions, when timber revenues are low and recreational use
increases, the financial and environmental impact on the
Demonstration State Forests can be significant."
According to CDF's Website, as of September 2006, "[CDF]
operates eight Demonstration State Forests totaling 71,000
acres. The forests represent the most common forest types in
the state. The State Forests grow approximately 75 million
board feet yearly and harvest an average of 30 million board
feet of timber each year, enough to build 3,000 single-family
homes. In addition, the forests provide research and
demonstration projects on forest management, while providing
public recreation opportunities, fish and wildlife habitat, and
watershed protection." The eight state forests are: Jackson
(Mendocino County), Boggs Mountain (Lake County), Latour (Shasta
County), Mountain Home (Tulare County), Soquel (Santa Cruz
County), Las Posadas (Napa County), Mount Zion (Amador County),
and Ellen Pickett (Trinity County). Jackson State Forest, at
over 50,000 acres, is the largest state forest.
Public recreation (e.g., camping, hiking, horse-riding, biking,
retreats) occurs on all but the latter two forests, which,
including Las Posadas, were acquired as gifts and are the
smallest of the state forests. Las Posadas is dedicated solely
to research and Ellen Pickett has no roads. This recreation is
currently provided free-of-charge. According to CDF, the state
forests currently experience approximately 40,000 camper days
annually. In an era of government austerity, it is appropriate
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for CDF to charge reasonable recreational fees to cover its
maintenance and improvement costs. CDF expects to charge
$10-15/vehicle or tent per day and raise a total of between
$80,000-$120,000/year. This compares to $35/vehicle or about
$200/group for camping at state parks near Jackson State Forest,
for example.
Analysis Prepared by : Dan Chia / NAT. RES. / (916) 319-2092
FN: 0004092